Farm fire claims up 21pc... and long, dr y summer is blamed
RURAL insurer NFU Mutual says fire claims rose to nearly £32 million during the 2018 harvest – a 21% rise that is being blamed on the hot and dry summer.
The firm says the figure, up from £26 million in 2017, show the extent of devastation farmers faced after the difficult summer season.
The hot weather made for an early harvest for farmers, says NFU Mutual, and the fires that broke out across the country threatened the lives of farmers and livestock.
However, although nationally there was a sharp rise in the number of reported fires, the Midlands was the least affected region, with the north west and south east of the country hardest hit.
Although nationally the claims during June and September reached just over £31.5 million, claims in The Midlands ran to just under £2m.
Tim Price, NFU Mutual rural affairs specialist, said: “Fire remains one of the greatest hazards on the nation’s farms.
“We normally see claims peaking in August and September, but this year saw a sharp increase in claims during June and July.
“This was due to the exceptionally hot dry summer which brought harvesting forward by almost a month and resulted in tinder dry crops and overheating of combines, balers, and other harvesting machinery.”
According to the Met Office, 2018 was the UK’S warmest summer since 2006, the driest since 2003 and the sunniest since 1995. July was a particularly tough month for farmers, during which fire costs erupted to almost £13m nationally – an increase of more than 137% on the previous year.
Serious moorland fires in Lancashire during June were responsible for a large proportion of the North West claims cost. The most common cause of farm fires during the 2018 harvest period – responsible for almost half of NFU Mutual’s claims – were electrical and mechanical fires, many of which started in vehicles such as balers, combine harvesters and tractors due to the scorching weather providing the perfect environment for overheating.
The second most common cause of fire was spread from elsewhere – such as a barn or homestead, followed in third place by arson.
Tim continued: “The scale of these claims shows how important it is to take all possible steps to prevent fires breaking out, and to have clear plans to evacuate people and livestock safely in the event of a fire.
“Also, it’s vital to make sure you have the right sort of fire extinguishers maintained in good order so you can fight small fires safely.”